Servant in Training: 2008

Monday, June 23, 2008

In the Prime of Life 08

~ Annual camp out at Lake Wanatchee May 26-30th ~

Together with Mom, Dad, brothers Rahmatullah, Ruhullah, and
his daughter Daisy & wife Annie, my sis Ruhiyyih, and
cousin Eve, Aunt Bonnie and uncle Frank

The weather gave us a bit of everything. The first day it was
windy cold all day and throughout the night. The next day started
with a heavy fog and then a light rain. And then we had beauteous
sunshine on the last day. We hiked, relaxed, and everyone took
turns canoeing.

A journal log of events –

Day 1 ~

-many hours bundled up in front of the fire most of the day
-the family talked and talked. Someone said of my cousin
Eve and I dressing similar. I also talked with her about
Arthurpoet and what a release it is to express through
blogging and the videos and pics.
-I would be sharing a tent with my bro Rahmat
-The first night we talked of many things, like how
humans have had to live like this for thousands of years.
About the natives and how they might set up camp, the quest
for fire, how to hunt and just overall survival. This makes camping
a very rich time, where you actually try and rough it and think
of your own progress in life.. you think of the evolution of humanity
and the health of our planet.

We laid back in our tent and listened to the howling winds. Rahmat sat up
some time later and listened to some music while looking out at Lake
Wenatchee. I stayed up a bit more to write by candlelight. The winds
continued until an hour before dawn.

Day 2

(Filming the latest video 'In the prime of life 08')

-crazy adventurous forest frolic

-took pictures

~ a family of photographers ~

-had some of the best canoeing moments with Rahmat

-we paddled to a spot where there was this huge dead tree
far from shore, in the water, not floating, but big enough to
hold itself above the surface. We got out and sat on it and
took in some extreme beauty on every side. We sat there for
a little bit quietly. Took this shot there on the log ~

-came back got bite to eat then headed back out

-we went along the shore, collected sticks

-went back to camp, had dinner

-stood and enjoyed the sunset for a while

-goofed around most of the evening

-my chair broke, i fell on my bum

with Eve coming to my aid. and look at those chuncky shoes!

hey uncle frank! pull my finger ~~

-we all talked into the night

Last day ~

my younger brother and older, sis, mom and dad

From moms blog:
"The most memorable moment on the trip was when everyone sat
down with my 'Polenta and Eggs Breakfast'. I fried left-over sliced
bratwurst with garlic and onions, steamed some asparagus, and
fried up the polenta with tomatoes and orange peppers. Then I
cracked some eggs over the top to poach them until they were
cooked. When the eggs were done, I piled it onto paper plates,
which George passed around to our family. As everyone took their
first bite they all looked puzzled, paused, looked at the food and
spit it out.

Ruhiyyih looked up and said, "MOM, there is SOAP in this food!"

She put the meal down, came over and put her arms around me,
laughing and consoling me at the same time. I couldn't figure it out
until I realized that I had two plastic bottles filled with what I
thought was olive oil.

One was labeled with O for oil. The other was left-over Palmolive
Dishwashing Liquid from last fall and wasn't labeled. When it
poured slowly from the bottle, I just thought it was due to the cold
weather; when it bubbled, I figured moisture in the onions.

What a disaster! I had to send them over to Rue's cook station for breakfast.."

And now for my favorite part ~

Ornament Pictures Presents

~ Adventures with Taraz ~
"In the Prime of Life 08"

(BEST to download high quality HERE
or click above link to view in windows media,
double click screen for 'full screen' wait a
couple min to load, turn speakers UP)

(ha is that what i really look like behind the camera??)

Note on the video ~ I LOVE trees! But I also love
to push down the dead ones. I get a little crazy here
but that is what I feel is great about nature, leting out
all of your energy. Its just a good time, and this was
the most fun video I have made to date! In the end
I am asleep on the log where last years fun happened.
I go into a dream state where i remember and show clips
from last years video. And the music is so amazingly beautiful !

Watch on youtube ~~

There are lots of new changes that i will explain in the coming
blogs. For now i am set to travel to Denver Colorado on the
summer solstice for a warm season of adventure. Everything
will take off soon and i will have an update shortly after i get there
with my plans and happenings and more details of this new life. I
will be doing video blogs and have just purchased a new video
camera. Been trying to get this blog posted for a few weeks now
but have been moving and getting prepared to leave. For now i
leave you with hope and prayers, of the guiding light within and
the chance of a new time and place ~

Love,
Tarázát

ps we ended up going for a camp in eastern washington a week or
so later where i used my new camera and made a very high quality
video that i will post next after i get settled in Denver. See you all
soon, wish me luck

~ Last entry
~ Others
~ Svadyaya

Now Playing ~ Yasunori Mitsuda,
Dan Barnaba, & Deep Forest

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

One year ~ a lifetime of growth

:: My Period of Service Oct 03 - May 05 ::

When one reaches spiritual maturity you have the chance to embark on whatever journey you choose to take.. A time period where one reflects on what it means to serve humanity while deepening in their knowledge of self.

Here I spent this time providing volunteer service. Generally you live somewhere and have room, board and everything taken care of. (usually!)

It can be heaven on earth but its not meant to be easy. Many youth have never tried to go deep inside themselves and ask those important questions of faith and what their purpose is. For me, this was the time. This was the place~

~:~ Louhelen Baha'i school. ~:~

I had just finished my studies in digital media over the summer of 03, and just turned 22.. It was October 4th and I had just arrived, ready for lots of work and lots of learning.

Surrounded by beautiful acres of land and forests to explore in your free time, self awareness was the aim here. If one really is intent on this being a time to serve then you have to learn that this is a selfless act. That was the first lesson for me. And from that moment on I thrived..

Its funny that you are trying to be selfless but at the same time learning a great deal about yourself.. Its incredible what you gain from this practice.

There are sure to be many tests and difficulties along the way but it is a path that proves to have more bounty than anything else. To be away from home can be the first of tests. One gets lonely and people will find a need for distractions.

You see, so many come with the attachments they brought with them. TV, past relationships, cell phones, friends back home, your car… It is healthy and normal to have these things but you can create a once in a lifetime experience if you can just let go of this for a short while. And to try and develop your own sense of being.

After some months of this I started to write about all the distractions in my past in the form of a screenplay that spanned the duration of my time there.

The hard fact is that you must eventually leave, bring what you have learned and start over. Many youth have a kind of culture shock because they see what their friends are really like and are reminded of the condition of the world.. and we wonder what to do. and sometimes we slip back into our old routines.

I continued to have new challenges and tests.. I retreated to nature all the time.

I used this as distraction from myself at times and as a way to connect to the Creator. Even if you're only able to just meditate, you are connecting with your soul.

I was looking for a hidden truth. An unknown path. The hidden truth for me is that my distractible mind makes it hard for me to be firm and focused. It's like when I would sit in school for 8 hours; I want to do the work and I enjoy education but I just couldn't fully grasp it or focus on it. The main thing I discovered during that year and a half was that service kept my head afloat. It made the most sense - to be selfless, to be humble..

I learned my true nature through helping people. When not helping in the kitchen or outside in the gardens, my free time would be spent hiding in the back during lectures or just spending time being with children.

(co-camp counselor summer 04)

When I came home I was without an idea of my next path, cautious of who I was, what I really gained, and what would I have to offer now?

Sometimes when we are left alone once again we have to find new inspiration..

I wrote this in my journal ~

..It felt so good to pray. in the silence. in the aloneness. To write and listen to calming sounds. I felt the feelings and memories shared by all. I felt the paths and thoughts that used to flow all around. and the people came and went. the smiles and rich feelings.

I crossed my hands in silence and went deep down, deep down to that enshrouded sanctuary in my soul to plant the seed of that wonderful time captured in a timeless palace, where those memories will always be closest to me.